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Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers 'edging closer' to Liverpool FC job

Brendan Rodgers, whose Swansea side beat Liverpool 0-1 in the last match of the season Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers appears to be edging closer to filling Liverpool's managerial vacancy - but reports he has agreed a three-year deal have been dismissed as premature.

The 39-year-old emerged yesterday as Fenway Sports Group's first choice to succeed Kenny Dalglish, having moved ahead of Wigan boss Roberto Martinez.

Reports began circulating late this afternoon that a three-year deal had been agreed but sources at Liverpool say this was "categorically untrue".

It seems inevitable, however, that the Northern Irishman will be installed at Anfield and most likely before the weekend.

The Reds will have to pay somewhere in the region of £4m to £5m in compensation as part of the new contract Rodgers signed at Swansea's Liberty Stadium in February.

After holding a meeting with club chairman Huw Jenkins yesterday, Rodgers was believed to have met representatives from Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, this afternoon and it is now anticipated he will speak to Jenkins again.

Rodgers has won many plaudits for the way Swansea played on their return to the top flight this season, and while his initial link to Liverpool left fans unimpressed they appeared to have warmed to the idea in the last couple of days.

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler believes Rodgers deserves his chance but has warned next season may be another testing one for the Anfield faithful.

"For what Brendan Rodgers has achieved at Swansea, he deserves huge respect.

"He's worked under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea so he knows the score and he's worked with top players.

"It'd be a massive step-up for Rodgers to manage Liverpool, if he gets the job, as expected now.

"The new manager will need to bring in new players again to take Liverpool from a top-eight club to a top-four club.

"That's going to be really difficult. It's a massive challenge.

"Because the top four are going to bring in new players too and that gulf increases again.

"I have to say it, right now the 2012/2013 season looks like it's going to be another difficult one for Liverpool fans."

– Former Liverpool player Robbie Fowler

Fowler felt former manager Rafael Benitez would have been the sensible option, even though FSG discounted him very early on in the process, but had concerns over long-time front-runner Wigan boss Roberto Martinez.